Spain - Nature in Green Spain

78 Pages·2007·8.754 MB·English

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Cabo Ortegal 12
GALICIA 6 Cariño
San Andrés de Teixido
Cedeira 15 Ortigueira Xove
ASTURIAS 22 Valdoviño Mera Viveiro Cervo 27
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PORTO 5 km PENAFIEL 10 km TÔRRE DE MONCORVO 30 km SALAMANCA 55 km MEDINA DEL CAMPO 20 km BOCEGUILLAS 40 km MEDINACELI 45 km
1stedition
Dublin
IRELAND
UNITED KINGDOM
London
Paris
FRANCE
Bay of Biscay
GREEN SPAIN
Madrid
SPAIN
Mediterranean
Sea
Ceuta
Melilla
INTRODUCTION by the Cantabrian Range, and
that is undoubtedly one of
Legend has it that it was Europe’s leading areas in terms
Michelet, the famous French of the quality of its scenery and
botanist, who first uttered that the richness of its biodiversity.
much-repeated phrase about The mountains of the
Africa beginning at the Cantabrian Range run from east
Pyrenees. What he was to west along the northern
referring to was the essentially flank of the Iberian Peninsula,
Mediterranean character of invariably parallel to the sea.
most of the Iberian Peninsula Their great geological variety
in general, and of Spain in comes as a surprise. The oldest
particular. Yet not all of Spain is rocky massifs of granite, slate
Mediterranean, dun-coloured and quartzite dominate the
and dry. There is another Spain, west (Galicia), lending a rolling,
less well-known, wet, green and hilly shape to the terrain.
subject to an Atlantic climate, To the east (Asturias, Cantabria
one whose backbone is formed and the Basque Country),
Aramaio Valley
2
in contrast, more recent rocks and horses. In some places,
of a calcareous nature are more this rain exceeds 2,000 litres
common. These have been worn per square metre per year and
away and eroded by water, accounts for the presence of
thereby creating karst forests, such as the beech groves
landscapes, some of which are found in the Iberian Peninsula
spectacular, such as the immense at the limit of their southern
Asturian and Cantabrian European habitat. These
canyons (Cares, La Hermida), plentiful precipitations are
the large cave complexes (Alto likewise needed by other more
Asón) and the external karren northern-type forests, like the
(lapiesor limestone pavements), groves of oak (of different
such as those of the Basque species), birch and hazel and
mountain ranges (Aralar, Itxina, the riverside forests of alder
Aitzgorri). Rain is undoubtedly and ash. Seeking refuge in
one of the principal factors that these magic woodlands are
defines Green Spain, with the some of the gems of European
abundant year-round rainfall fauna, e.g., the Cantabrian
maintaining these verdant brown bear (Ursus arctos),
meadows that sustain the local Iberian wolf and capercaillie
flocks of sheep, herds of cows (Tetrao urogallus).
3
Found in the more barren areas, birds, are sure to delight the
up on the most impregnable watcher with their beauty and
crags (especially in the Picos de rarity. The entire coastline of
Europa Range) are chamois, Green Spain, stretching from the
the quarry of the Golden eagle Basque Country down to Galicia,
(Aquila chrysaetos). This is not is characterised by a notable
the only bird of prey, however, wealth of estuaries, where the
since the Cantabrian Range is an Cantabrian and Atlantic rivers
extraordinary hunting ground flow into the sea, forming
for short-toed eagles (Circaetus mouths interspersed with salt
gallicus), booted eagles marshes and sand flats, where it
(Hieraaetus pennatus), griffon is easy to spot -above all in
vultures (Gyps fulvus) and winter- yellow-legged gulls
Egyptian vultures (Neophron (Larus cachinnans), cormorants,
percnopterus). Other species curlews (Numenius arquata),
too, in this case sea or coastal herons, spoonbills (Platalea
San Vicente de la Barquera with the Picos de Europa in the background
4
leucorodia) and other species of and, dating from a later period,
bird, hardly any distance from the presence of many
archetypal seaside towns and Megalithic monuments
villages whose livelihood (dolmens, cronlechs and
depends on fish and shellfish menhirs). The isolation of these
(Getaria, Lekeitio, Santoña, San mountains has made for the
Vicente de la Barquera, Llanes, preservation of traditions and
Cudillero, Cedeira, Muros, etc.). highly individualistic peoples
The Cantabrian mountains may such as the Basques or pasiegos
possibly have been one of the (those dwelling in the Pas River
first sites in Europe to be settled Valley). All the places described
after the Ice Age. This would in this Guide are Special
account for the extraordinary Protection Areas, and most are
wealth of caves with Place of Regional Interest
Palaeolithic rock paintings forming part of the European
(Altamira, Tito Bustillo, Ekain) Natura 2000 Network.
5
G
A L
I C I A
ATLANTIC ISLANDS
MARINE-TERRESTRIAL
NATIONAL PARK
Off the sharply indented coast
of Galicia’s Rías Baixas(lower or
southernmost estuaries), lies a
group of islands that make up
the National Park. These are
the Cíes Islands lying in the
roadstead to the Vigo estuary,
the Isle of Ons at the entrance to
Pontevedra, Sálvora Island at the
mouth of the Arousa estuary,
and Cortegada Island, much
closer inshore though also in the
Arousa estuary. Pre-eminent
among these are the Cíes,
comprising three islands, namely,
Monte Agudo or North Island,
Faro or Middle Island and
San Martiño or South Island.
The ancient forests of Pyrenean
oak (Quercus pirenaica) have
disappeared and have been
replaced by reafforestation
with eucalyptus, mimosa, and
red and Monterey pine. Endemic
species of great value, such as
Portuguese crowberry and
the popularly called hierba de
enamorar(herb of love) or
thrift (armeria pubigera), can
however be found growing in
the scenically stunning areas of
sandy soils that fringe the
islands’ bleached white strands,
7
Beaches. Cíes Islands
while over 200 species of with some 1,000 pairs. Though
seaweed –and brown algae of fewer in number, lesser
the Laminariaand Sachoriza black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus)
genera in particular- thrive and stormy (or storm) petrels
in the rich seabed (within likewise mate and tend to their
the protected area of shelf young. These sea birds can be
stretching 100 metres from the easily spotted, drying their
Spring low tide mark). The island feathers in the sun, after diving
landscape is very asymmetrical: among the many reefs that lie
whereas the western side, between the islands. Other birds
flanking the open sea, is sheer that winter here include
and rocky, the eastern coast, the cormorant (Phalacrocorax
facing the Bay of Vigo, is carbo), black-throated diver
smoothly folded, protected (Gavia arctica), gannet (Sula
against the saline Atlantic winds, bassana) and shearwater, which
and lined with superb, fine can be easily seen from the
white sandy beaches. It is on the lighthouses that illuminate the
steep, less “tamed” side where entrance to the Bay of Vigo.
birds tend to nest, and indeed it These vantage points can be
is here that the famous colony reached by climbing the trails
of yellow-legged gulls is to that begin at the Rodas pier,
be found. This is the most the point where the boats from
important colony in Galicia, with Vigo or Baiona moor after a
over 22,000 breeding pairs,
whose riotous uproar
disrupts the peace and
Yellow-legged gull
tranquillity of these
islands throughout
the spring and summer
months. Another bird that
nests here is the shag
(Phalacrocorax aristotelis),
8